5 Common Phrasal Verbs You’re Using Wrong
Mastering English isn’t just about memorising long lists of vocabulary or perfecting your past participle. If you’ve been studying for a while, you’ve likely realised that the real challenge lies in two or three little words joined together: Phrasal Verbs.
Phrasal verbs like “get up”, “look into”, or “run out” are the heartbeat of natural, conversational English. However, because their meanings often have very little to do with the original verb, they are incredibly easy to misuse.
In this guide, we aren’t simply going to list phrasal verbs. We’re going to look at the 5 most common phrasal verbs that even advanced learners get wrong, why these mistakes happen, and how you can start using them like a native speaker today.
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| common phrasal verb mistakes |
Why Phrasal Verbs Are So Tricky for Learners
Before we dive into the list, let’s address the elephant in the room: Why are these so difficult?
A phrasal verb consists of a verb + a particle (a preposition or an adverb). The tricky part is that the particle can completely change the meaning of the verb.
• Look: To see with your eyes.
• Look after: To take care of someone.
• Look forward to: To feel excited about something in the future.
If you translate these literally into your native language, they often make no sense whatsoever. That’s why many learners “over-formalise” their English — using words like “extinguish” instead of “put out” — because they’re understandably worried about making a mistake with the phrasal verb.
1. Fill out vs. Fill in
This is perhaps the most common mistake seen in offices and schools around the world.
The Common Mistake:
Many learners use “fill up” when talking about a document.
• Incorrect: “Can you please fill up this application form?”
The Fix:
• Fill in: Use this for documents, forms, or surveys (this is the preferred form in British English).
• Fill out: Also used for forms, though more common in American English.
• Fill up: Use this for physical containers such as a glass of water or a petrol tank.
Example:
“I need to fill in these tax forms before I go to the petrol station to fill up my car.”
Dev’s Pro Tip: Think of “filling up” as adding physical volume. Unless you’re pouring water over your paperwork (which I hope you’re not!), stick to “fill in”.
2. Look forward to (The Grammar Trap)
This phrasal verb is a staple of professional emails, yet it contains a grammatical “trap” that catches almost everyone at some point.
The Common Mistake:
• Incorrect: “I look forward to meet you.”
• Incorrect: “I’m looking forward to hear from you.”
The Fix:
In this phrasal verb, “to” is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. Prepositions must be followed by a Gerund (-ing form) or a Noun.
Example:
“I look forward to meeting you.”
“I look forward to the weekend.”
Why It Matters for Professionalism:
If you’re writing a cover letter or a business proposal, getting the “-ing” form wrong immediately signals to the recruiter that you haven’t fully mastered English nuances. It’s a small detail — but in professional contexts, small details matter. Always use the gerund here.
3. Pass out vs. Pass away
Using the wrong particle here can lead to a very awkward (or unintentionally tragic) conversation.
The Common Mistake:
Confusing a loss of consciousness with a loss of life.
• Incorrect: “It was so hot in the room that I thought I was going to pass away.” (Unless you were actually dying, this is rather dramatic!)
The Fix:
• Pass out: To faint or lose consciousness (usually due to heat, exhaustion, or illness).
• Pass away: A polite, euphemistic way to say “to die”.
Example:
“He passed out from the heat, but luckily he woke up a minute later.”
“My grandfather passed away peacefully in his sleep last year.”
4. Pick up (The Multiple Meaning Muddle)
“Pick up” is a truly multi-purpose phrasal verb. The mistake here usually isn’t grammar — it’s context.
The Different Meanings:
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To lift something: “Can you pick up that pen?”
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To collect someone: “I’ll pick you up at 8 pm.”
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To learn a skill naturally: “I picked up some Spanish while living in Madrid.”
The Common Mistake:
Learners often use “pick up” when they should use “collect” or “fetch”, or they forget that when “picking up” a person, the pronoun must be placed correctly.
• Incorrect: “I will pick up you from the station.”
• Correct: “I will pick you up from the station.”
Note on Separability:
“Pick up” is a separable phrasal verb. If you use a pronoun (him, her, it, us, them), the pronoun must go in the middle.
• Correct: Pick it up.
• Incorrect: Pick up it.
5. Throw away vs. Throw out
While these are often interchangeable, learners sometimes confuse them with “throw up” — and that’s where things get messy.
The Common Mistake:
• Incorrect: “This food is old; I’m going to throw it up.” (This actually means you are going to vomit!)
The Fix:
• Throw away / Throw out: To put something in the bin.
• Throw up: To vomit.
Example:
“I had to throw away the leftover pizza because it made me want to throw up.”
How to Practise Phrasal Verbs (So You Don’t Forget Them)
Knowing the rules is one thing; using them in real time is another.
1. Use the “Context Rule”
Never learn a phrasal verb in isolation. Don’t just write “Break down = stop working.” Instead, write: “My car broke down on the motorway.” Your brain remembers stories far better than dry definitions.
2. Group by Particle, Not Verb
Instead of learning all the “Get” verbs (get up, get over, get by), try learning all the “Up” verbs. Often, the particle “up” implies completion or improvement (clean up, cheer up, fill up). This helps you make educated guesses about the meaning of new verbs.
3. Record Yourself
Use your phone to record a 30-second story using three of the phrasal verbs from this list. Listen back to it carefully. Does it sound natural? Did you remember the “-ing” after “look forward to”? Small self-checks like this build real confidence over time.
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Conclusion: Don’t Aim for Perfection, Aim for Connection
Phrasal verbs are what make English colourful and expressive. Yes, you might mix up “fill in” and “fill up” once or twice — and that’s perfectly normal. The goal is to keep communicating. The more you use them, the more automatic they become.
Language learning isn’t about getting everything right immediately. It’s about progress, clarity, and connection.
What’s one phrasal verb that always confuses you? Leave a comment below — I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
